SoftBank Group Announces €75 Billion Plan to Build 5 GW of AI Data Center Capacity in France
June 2, 2026
SoftBank Group Announces €75 Billion Plan to Build 5 GW of AI Data Center Capacity in France
SoftBank Group has unveiled plans to develop and operate up to 5 gigawatts of artificial intelligence data center capacity in France, with an investment of up to €75 billion. The initiative, announced during the 2026 Choose France summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, marks what the company described as its largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe and signals a major push to position France as a leading hub for AI development on the continent.
The first phase of the project involves an initial €45 billion investment to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. Planned facilities will be located in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain. SoftBank said the investment is intended to meet surging demand for AI computing infrastructure and will provide high performance computing capacity for AI companies, cloud providers, enterprises, public institutions, and research organizations.
The project will be developed in collaboration with SB Energy and other strategic partners. SoftBank also announced a strategic industrial partnership with Schneider Electric to support the rollout of AI infrastructure across France. As part of that partnership, the two companies plan to establish a large scale industrial production cluster at the Port of Dunkirk. The cluster will include a SoftBank-operated facility manufacturing enclosures and a Schneider Electric-operated facility integrating data center power modules. The companies said the project will combine SoftBank’s robotics and automation capabilities with Schneider Electric’s industrial expertise and local supply chain network.
The investment is expected to create thousands of high skilled jobs across data center development, engineering, energy systems, robotics, operations, maintenance, and advanced manufacturing. SoftBank also plans to work with local universities, engineering schools, and training institutions to support research and workforce development focused on next generation AI infrastructure. SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said, “AI is entering a new era, and the countries that build the infrastructure for this transformation will shape the future of technology, industry and society. SoftBank is proud to make this major commitment to France. With its industrial capabilities, talent base and national ambition, France is uniquely positioned to become a leading AI infrastructure hub in Europe.”
French Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial, Energy, and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure welcomed the investment, stating that SoftBank’s decision to invest massively in AI datacenters in France, a first for the group in Europe, is testament to President Macron’s ambition to position France as a leading destination along the AI value chain. He highlighted France’s fast access to the most reliable electrical grid in Europe, a strong digital and industrial ecosystem with a skilled workforce, and a government that works with local authorities to fast track procedures for strategic projects. EDF Chairman and CEO Bernard Fontana noted that the Bouchain site project demonstrates France’s ability to host large-scale digital infrastructure supported by competitive, sovereign and low-carbon electricity, while giving new purpose to former industrial sites.
Industry analysts view the announcement as a significant step in Europe’s race to build AI infrastructure, particularly as demand for high performance computing continues to outpace supply. The partnership with Schneider Electric and the establishment of a production cluster at Dunkirk underscore a broader trend toward localized supply chains for AI data center development, aimed at enhancing European technological sovereignty and resilience. The project also reinforces France’s ambition to compete with other European hubs such as Ireland and the Nordics for large scale data center investments. SoftBank said the initiative is designed to strengthen France’s AI infrastructure, support European technological sovereignty, and create a more localized and resilient supply chain for AI data center development across Europe.
Source: pulse2
